Rotating spindle seals for vertical mill



Feb. 15, 1966 w. J. HILL 3,234,770

ROTATING SPINDLE SEALS FOR VERTICAL MILL Filed May 8, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Zl/illz'am HI'ZZ tm elm-6A, ,EW

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Feb. 15, 1966 W. J. HILL 3,234,770

ROTATING SPINDLE SEALS FOR VERTICAL MILL Filed May 8, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 2 I38 //42 3 rl z +3 INVENTOR.

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ROTATING SPINDLE SEALS FOR VERTICAL MILL Filed May 8, 1965 4 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

gmmgm gzM United States Patent 3,234,770 ROTATING SPINDLE SEALS FORVERTICAL MILL William J. Hill, Holden, Mass, assignor to MorganConstruction Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsFiled May 8, 1963, Ser. No. 278,966

6 Claims. (Cl. 72249) This invention relates to vertical roll stands ina continuous rolling mill and more particularly to a means forpreventing the contamination of underlying intermediate drive mechanismswith cooling water, mill scale and other foreign matter.

During the rolling operation, the rolls have a tendency to becomeoverheated due to the high temperature of the stock being passedtherebetween and the extreme rolling pressure exerted thereon by therolls. Consequently, cooling water in large quantities is applieddirectly to the roll surfaces in order to maintain their temperatureswithin acceptable operating ranges. A second function of the coolingwater is to dislodge scale that may have adhered to the surface of therolls after having been loosened from the stock during the rollingoperation. The mixture of cooling water and scale then flows downwardlythrough the mill stand to a culvert or trough where it is carried away.

This poses no serious problem in the design of horizontal mill stands,since their intermediate drive mechanisms are positioned to one side ofthe pass line and are not susceptible to contamination by cooling waterand mill scale. However, vertical mill stands are commonly driventhrough intermediate drive mechanisms comprised principally of bevelgears, gear couplings and bearings positioned beneath the mill stand ina pinion and bevel gear housing. Upwardly disposed rotatable drivespindles provide the drive connection between the underlyingintermediate drive mechanisms and the vertical rolls rotatably mountedwithin the roll stand.

When cooling water and mill scale are allowed to contaminate theunderlying intermediate drive mechanisms, serious consequencesfrequently result. The deposit of scale and other foreign matter on thegears and bearing surfaces create excessive wear and result in frequentintervals of down-time during repair and replacement of worn components.In addition, where the cooling water being used is foul or brackish, thecorrosion rate of metal components is markedly increased.

Consequently, in present practice, considerable precautions are taken inan attempt to prevent the deposit of water and scale on the intermediatedrive mechanisms. Inclined water shed assemblies provided with spindleapertures through which the spindles may extend are usually mountedbetween the intermediate drive mechanisms and the vertical roll standsin order to direct the deluge of cooling water and mill scale tosuitably positioned troughs. Although this method has been successful indealing with a major portion of the cooling water and scale,considerable difliculty has been experienced in providing an adequatemeans of preventing water and scale from passing between the outerrotating surfaces of the spindles and the inner edges of the spindleapertures provided in the water sheds. This difiiculty has beencompounded by the necessity of providing for the various types ofmovement experienced by the spindles during the normal operation of themill. More specifically, the spindles must first be allowed to rotateabout their longitu-dinal axes in order to impart rotation to thevertical rolls. Secondly, as the space between the rolls is adjustedduring the operation of the mill in order to vary the cross-sectionaldimensions of the stock being rolled, the upper extremities of thespindles connected thereto must also be laterally displaced. Finally,some provision must be made for the vertical axial displacement of thespindles during changes in the elevation of the pass line or when agroove in the rolls becomes worn, necessitating the realignment of analternate groove with the pass line.

Thus it can be seen that a satisfactory seal must not only prevent thepassage ofwater and scale between the rotating outer surfaces of thespindles and the inner edges of the spindle apertures, but in additionmust also provide for the various aforementioned spindle movements.

Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide awater-tight seal between the outer surfaces of the rotating drivespindles and the inner edges of the spindle apertures through which theyextend in order to successfully prevent contamination of the underlyingintermediate drive mechanisms by cooling water, mill scale and otherforeign matter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water-tight sealcapable of permitting lateral movement of the spindles with respect tothe water shed assembly as the space between the vertical rolls isadjusted during the operation of the mill.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotating sealassembly slidably mounted on the spindle in order to provide both awater-tight seal between the spindle and the water shed assembly whilepermitting vertical, axial displacement of the spindle with respect tothe seal during corresponding vertical adjustments of the rolls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means forremoving accumulated mill scale and foreign matter such as grit,contaminated grease and oil from the exposed surfaces of the spindlesprior to the slidable axial displacement thereof through the rotatingseal.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation taken along line 11 of FIG.3 of a rotating seal assembly according to the present embodiment of theinvention shown slidably mounted on the drive spindle and in slidableengagement with the inclined water shed assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the rotating sealassembly;

FIG. 3 is a view in partial section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the water she-d with one spindleand its corresponding rotating seal as sembly shown in a raised positionand with its spindle aperture closing plates slidably displaced;

FIG. 5 is a plan view in partial section of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one of two vertically disposed drive spindles 8(drive spindle 10 is shown only in FIGS. 4 and 5) is shown extendingupwardly from a conventional pinion and bevel gear housing 12 containingintermediate drive mechanisms. The intermediate drive mechanisms arecomprised in part of pinion gears 9, spindle couplings 11 and bearings,and are provided in order to transmit power from the main gear drivelocated on either the drive or work side of the pass line throughupwardly disposed spindles 8 and 10 to the vertical rolls mounted withinthe overlying vertical roll stand.

The housing 12 is partially covered by a conventional inclined watershed assembly generally indicated at 14 and comprised of overlappingroof and canopy portions 16 and 18. Roof portion 16 is bolted to thehousing 12 by bolts 20 and overlaps the edges of cross-wisesemi-circular discharge troughs 22. The canopy portion 18 is of a peakedconfiguration and is provided with spindle apertures 22 through whichthe spindles may extend. The peaked canopy portion 16 overlaps roofportions 18 and is attached to the upper retainer rim 26 of housing 12by canopy studs 28. The water shed assembly thus described comprises acommonly used means of providing the intermediate drive mechanismscontained within housing 12 with some measure of protection from thedescen ing deluge of cooling water and mill scale during the operationof the mill. Because of the successive overlapping features of canopy16, roof 18, and troughs 23, water and scale is allowed to flow readilyover the inclined stepped surfaces of the shed assembly 14 to thetroughs for subsequent removal without leakage between the abuttingseams.

Although the above-described apparatus has proved successful in mostrespects, serious difficulties have been encountered in attempting toprovide an adequate seal between the outer rotating surfaces of spindles8 and 1t] and the inner edges 30 of spindle apertures 22. Consequently,Water and scale continue to pass therebetween during the operation ofthe mill, resulting in contamination of the lower intermediate drivemechanisms. As previously mentioned, this difficulty has been compoundedby the necessity to simultaneously provide for the aforementionedrotational, axial, and lateral movement of the spindle during theoperation of the mill.

The description of the applicants rotating seal assembly generallyindicated in FIG. 1 at 32 will now proceed with particular reference tothe enlarged, partial, sectional view of FIG. 2. The rotating sealassembly 32 is comprised principally of a non-rotating sub-assemblyslidably mounted with respect to the shed assembly 14 and generallyindicated at 34, and a rotatable sub-assembly 36 slidably mounted on thespindle 8 for rotation therewith.

For convenience of description, the non-rotating subassembly 34 willfirst be described. A trunnion housing 38 having a peaked basecorresponding to the peak of canopy 18 and provided wtih longitudinalliners 48 attached to its lower surfaces by screws 42 is slidablymounted on peaked spindle aperture closing plates 44 and 46 in turnsupported by canopy 18.

The above-mentioned sliding relationship is provided between trunnionhousing 38 and aperture closing plates 44 and 46 in order to enable theseal assembly 32 to move laterally with the spindles duringcorresponding lateral adjustments of the distance between the verticalrolls rotatably mounted within the overlying vertical roll stand.

The description of the non-rotating sub assembly 34 will now betemporarily interrupted in order to provide a further description of thestructure and function of peaked coupling components, the outer surfaceof the female member having splined teeth 11 contained in cooperativeengagement with hollow splined pinions 9, thereby providing aconventional means of transmitting power regardless of angular spindlemisalignment from the intermediate drive mechanisms contained withinhousing 12 through the spindles to the vertical rolls rotatably mountedwithin the vertical roll stands. Consequently, spindle apertures 22 incanopy 18 must be of suflicient diameter to accept enlarged portions 50during axial insertion or withdrawal of the spindles and couplingcomponents 11 from within the hollow splined pinions 9.

However, without the addition of some means for subsequently restrictingthe size of aperture 22 following the passage therethrough of lowersections 50, trunnion housings 38 would of necessity have to be ofconsiderable length in order to completely cover spindle apertures 22,yet allow for their abovernentioned sliding movement duringcorresponding lateral displacements of the spindles.

If the trunnion housings were elongated in order to eliminate the needof aperture closing plates 44 and 46, there would not be space enough towithdraw them through the windows of the upper stand. Furthermore, theywould undoubtedly come into contact with upper structural componentssuch as the center section of the scale chute (not shown) during thiswithdrawal.

For this reason, peaked aperture closing plates 44, 46 and 48 areinterposed between canopy I8 and trunnion housings 38 in order toprovide a means of subsequently diminishing the lateral dimensions ofthe spindle apertures corresponding to the axis of lateral displacementof trunnion housings 38. In this manner, the lateral dimensions oftrunnion housings 38 can be kept to a minimum without jeopardizing thecomplete coverage of spindle apertures 22 during their lateraldisplacements when roll adjustments are made necessitating acorresponding lateral displacement of the spindles.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, spindle 8 and its rotating seal 32 havebeen shown in a partially raised position such as would be the caseduring insertion or withdrawal of the spindle from its hollow splinedpinion. In order to provide a better illustration of the function ofaperture closing plates 44, 46 and 48, dotted lines 44a, 46a and 48ahave been used to indicate the respective positions of aperture closingplates 44, 46 and 48 after they have been laterally displaced inopposite directions to widen spindle aperture 22 to its full dimensions.As can readily be seen from FIG. 5, when the plates are in abuttingrelationship in their aperture closing position, the enlarged lowerspindle section 58 could not be completely withdrawn from the water shedassembly 14. However, by slidably displacing the three aperture closingplates 44, 46 and 48 in opposite directions to positions as indicated inFIGS. 4 and 5 as 44a, 46a and 48a, the original lateral dimensions ofspindle aperture 22 are completely regained, making the withdrawal ofenlarged section 50 possible. Once the enlarged spindle section Stl haspassed through spindle aperture 22 and has been axially inserted withinhollow splined pinion 9, spindle aperture closing plates are laterallydisplaced from their alternate position indicated at 44a, 46a and 48aand returned to their restricting position as indicated at 44, 46 and48. The rotating seal 32 is then lowered and placed in slidableengagement thereon with its end extremities more than amply covering thenow restricted spindle aperture 22.

The procedure for loosening and sliding spindle aperture closing plates44, 46 and 48 in opposite directions to their alternate positions at44a, 46a and 48a in preparation for the withdrawal of spindle 8 fromspindle ap erture 22 will now be described with particular reference toFIG. 2. Spindle aperture closing plates 44, 46 and 48 are positioned inflat relationship on the upper surface of canopy l8. Liner 44) of bronzeor some other noncorrosive material is interposed between the uppersurface of spindle aperture adjusting plates 44 and 46 and trunnionhousing 38 in order to facilitate a sliding relationship therebetween.The outer edges of plates 44 and 46 are in turn clamped withinrectangular channel 52 in keeper plate 54 having the intermediateportion of canopy clamp studs 28 extending thereth-rough. A longitudinalkeeper bar 56 having lateral slots 58 positioned therein for receivingstuds 28 is positioned on keeper plate 54. The tapered extremity 68 ofkeeper bar 56 is seated within a similarly shaped longitudinal receivingchannel 62 in trunnion housing 38. A longitudinal metal washer 64 isplaced intermediate canopy clamp stud nuts 66 and the upper face ofkeeper bar 56 in order to cover slots 58 and provide a bearing surfacefor the nuts. By tightening nuts 66, a downward clamping force isexerted through washer 64, keeper bar 56 and keeper plate 54 on apertureadjusting plates 44 and 46. However, it should be carefully noted thatwhen nuts 66 are tightened, a peripheral space remains between thetapered extremity 60 of keeper bar 56 and the inner surfaces of channel62, thereby allowing trunnion housing 38 to slide on liners 40 along theupper surfaces of fixed spindle aperture adjusting plate 44 and 46. Inthis manner, horizontal movement of the seal assembly 32 in conjunctionwith corresponding angular misalignment of spindle 18 during changes inthe space between the vertical rolls is permitted.

A flexible seal 68 is mounted along the outer surface of trunnionhousing 38 and held in slidable engagement with the beveled surface 70of keeper bar 56 by bolts 72, thereby preventing the passage of Waterand mill scale through the peripheral space between the taperedextremity 60 of gib 56 and the inner surfaces of receiving channel 62.

For ease of description, the combination of keeper plate 54, keeper bar56, washer 64, canopy clamp studs 28 and canopy clamp stud nuts 66 willhereinafter be referred to as hold-down assembly 67. As can be seen inFIG. 3 and again in FIGS. 4 and 5, the keeper plate of holddown assembly67 acts to hold both aperture closing plates 44 and 46. In addition, ascan be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, other identical hold-down assemblies 67a,69 and 69a are provided in order to securely hold aperture adjustingplates 44, 46 and 48 in place on canopy 18 during the operation of themill. Consequently, movement of the three aperture adjusting platesrequires loosening of the canopy clamp stud nuts of all four hold-downassemblies.

For example, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, when Withdrawal of spindle8 and seal assembly 32 is necessitated, the canopy clamp stud nuts 66 ofhold-down assemblies 67, 67a, 69 and 69a are simply loosened in order toallow :for the lateral withdrawal of keeper bars 56 from channels 62. Inthis manner, nonrotating sub-assembly 34 including trunnion housing 38is free to be upwardly displaced as the entire rotating seal assembly 32and spindle 8 are withdraw-n from aperture 22. In addition, by looseningstud nuts 66, the downward clamping force exerted on the apertureclosing plates 44, 46 and 48 by keeper plates 54 of hold-down assemblies67, 67a, 69 and 69a is relieved. Consequently, aperture ad justingplates 44, 4 6 and 48 may be slidably displaced to their alternatepositions 44a, 46a and 48a as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in order to enlargespindle aperture 22 and thereby permit the withdrawal therethrough ofthe enlarged lower spindle extremity 50.

Returning now to FIG. 2 and the description of nonrotating sub-assembly'34, one of two opposed trunnion pin blocks 74 is shown mounted within areceiving aperture cut in the upper circular edge of trunnion housing 38and held therein by bolts 77 (see FIG. 3). A second trunnion pin blockis provided facing trunnion block 74 within an oppositely disposedreceiving aperture (see FIG. 1). Although further description of therotating seal 32 will proceed with reference primarily to the halfsection shown in FIG. 2, it should be understood as evidenced by FIG. 1that the description will apply equally to both sides.

A vertical lubricating passageway 78 is drilled downwardly from thereceiving aperture containing trunnion pin block 74 through trunnionhousing 38 to intersect horizontal lubricating passageway 80. Greasefitting 82, positioned within circular chamber 84, is threaded withinpassageway 80. Chamber 84 is in turn covered by a threaded removableplug 86 in order to prevent contamination of grease fitting 82 withwater and scale.

Each trunnion pin block is further provided with a horizontally disposedcircular passageway 88 within which a trunnion pin 90 has been insertedand immobilized by a spot weld as at 9-2. It should be noted that byspot welding pin 90 within trunnion pin block 74, the lubricatingpassageway within the pin may be kept in communication with passageway78 in the trunnion housing.

A circular non-rotating trunnion ring 96 provided with opposed radialapertures 100 containing bushings 98 is pivotally mounted within theupper circular extremity of trunnion housing 38 by the inwardly disposedenlarged extremity of opposed trunnion pins 90. As can be seen in FIG.1, in mounting the trunnion ring 96 within the trunnion housing 38,bushings 98 are first inserted Within apertures 100. The two weldedassemblies comprising pins and blocks '74 are then inserted in bushings98. The combination of the trunnion ring 96, trunnion pins 90 andtrunnion pin blocks 74 is then lowered within the trun nion housing 38by seating the trunnion pin blocks within the oppositely disposedreceiving apertures in the circular upper extremity of the trunnionhousing. Bolts 77 are then used to firmly bolt the trunnion pin blocksin place. A flexible seal 102 is then provided between the upperextremity of the trunnion housing 38 and the outer circumference of thetrunnion ring 96 in order to provide a hermetic seal, thereby preventingmill scale from passing therebetween. Seal 102 is attached to the upperextremity of trunnion housing 38 by a metal seal retainer 106 fastenedby bolts indicated typically at 10-4, and to the trunnion ring 96 by awire hoop or snap ring 10 8.

Thus it can be seen that the trunnion ring 96 is nonrotatable and ispivotally mounted with respect to the trunnion housing 38 on axiallyaligned trunnion pins 90. In addition, the trunnion housing 38 isslidably mounted on liners 40 with respect to the fixed upper surfacesof aperture closing plates 44, 46 and 48.

In this manner, as the upper portions of the spindles are laterallydisplaced during roll adjustments causing them to incline from thevertical, trunnion housing 38 will slide along the aperture adjustingplat-es and trunnion ring 96 will pivot within trunnion housing 38 toaccommodate said inclined position of the spindles.

It should also be mentioned at this time that lubrication of the contactsurface between liner 49 and aperture adjusting plate 44 is provided byinjecting grease into grease fitting 110 contained within chamber 112and threaded within passageway 114. Passageway 114 is in turn incommunication with aperture 116 in liner 40. In order to preventcontamination of grease fitting 110 during operation of the mill,chamber 112 is covered by a combination plug and welded eye hook 118.The function of the eye hook will be subsequently pointed out.

Having thus described the principal components of the non-rotatingsub-assembly 34, attention Will now be focused on the componentscomprising the rotating subassembly 36. Spindle bushing 120 is slidablymounted in an axial direction on spindle 8 in order to rotate therewith.Circular woven fiber packing rings 122 are then positioned around thespindle above bushing 120. A washer 124, spring washer 126 and greasering 128 are then positioned over packing rings 122 followed by top sealring 130. Top seal ring 130 is provided with apertures 132 through whichbolts indicated typically at 134 extend in threaded engagement withbearing sleeve 136 surrounding bushing 120. With this construction, asbolts 134 are tightened, packing rings 122 are compressed betweenspindle bushing 120 and washer 124 by spring washer 126, therebyproviding a sealing means between the surface of the spindle 8 and therotating sub-assembly 36. In addition, compressed packing rings 122 alsoserve to promote frictional engagement between the outer surface ofspindle 8 and the rotating sub-assembly 36.

A circular recess 137 containing a commercially available seal guardassembly generally indicated at 138 is further provided within top sealring 130. The seal guard assembly is comprised of a pair of conicalbronze sleeves 140 having sharp upper edges held against the outersurface of rotating spindle 8 by a force transmitted through circularresilient seal 142, washer 144 and lock-washers 145 by the tightening ofbolts 134. Should a subsequent roll adjustment require the downwardaxial displacement of the spindle, sleeve 140 will serve to scrape anyaccumulated mill scale, contaminated grease or other foreign matterclinging to its surface, thereby preventing 7 their harmful entry intothe packing ring chamber and the gear housing.

It should also be noted that an annular passageway 146 is providedbetween the grease ring 128 and the lower edge of the top seal ring 130.Annular passageway 146 is in communication through passageway 150 withgrease fitting 148 in order to provide a means of injecting greasetherein. By providing a collar of grease surrounding spindle 8, afurther deterent is created to the passage of water and mill scalebetween the surface of the spindle and the inner surface of bearingsleeve 136. Thus it can be seen that two seals and a cleaning device areprovided between the outer surface of the spindle 18 and the rotatingsub-assembly 36.

Having thus described the principal components of the rotatingsub-assembly 36, its relationship to the nonrotating sub-assembly 34will now be discussed. Upper and lower roller bearings 152 and 154- areheld in spaced relationship by bearing spacer 156 and positionedintermediate non-rotating trunnion ring 96 and rotating bearing sleeve136. In this manner, the inner races 152a and 154a rotate while theouter races 152k and 154i; remain stationary. Upper roller bearing 152is further positioned and supported by a suitably disposed recess 153 intrunnion ring 96 and held in position thereon by the lower surface ofseal holder 162. A molded lip seal 164 bears against the rotating sleeve136. The seal is located in seal holder 162 and held in place byretaining ring 168 and bolts indicated typically at 170 threaded intotrunnion ring 96. Lower roller bearing inner race 154a is clampedagainst the lower surface of bearing spacer 156 by a circular curvedbearing retainer 172 and bolts indicated typically at 174. A secondmolded lip seal 176 reinforced with metal strips 1'78 is positionedbetween the inner surface of bearing retainer 172 and the lower outersurface of trunnion ring 96 and held in place by a snap ring 186.

Lubrication of upper and lower roller bearings 152 and 154 is providedby grease fitting 82 in communication therewith through passageways '78,94 and annular passageway 182 between bearing spacer 156 and the innersurface of trunnion ring 96. It should be noted that the lip seals 164iand 176 serve the dual function of preventing the inward seepage ofcooling water and mill scale between the rotating and non-rotatingsub-assemblies 34 and 36, and the outward flow of grease from thechambers between the rotating and non-rotating components.

In order to further protect the inner components of the seal assemblyand to aid in shedding a major portion of the cooling water and millscale, a circular hood 184 extending over the non-rotating sub-assembly34 is attached between the bearing sleeve 136 and the top seal ring 130for rotation therewith.

Having completed the description of both the rotating and n on-rotatingsub-assemblies, the operation of the rotating seal 32 as a unit will nowbe reviewed. be carefully noted that although the rotating seal assemblywas described in terms of two sub-assemblies, in actual practice theseal is an integral unit slipped over the upper extremity of the spindleand axially displaced thereon to its normal operating position.

During the operation of the mill, the rotating sub-assembly 36 rotatesfreely with spindle 8 as a result of the frictional engagement promotedtherebetween by the compressed packing rings 122. Although large amountsof cooling Water carrying mill scale and other foreign matter aredeposited on the seal assembly, a major portion of the cooling water isdeflected by rotating circular hood 184 for subsequent deposit on canopy18. Because of the collar of grease contained within annular passageway146 and the compressed woven fiber packing rings 122, no Water isallowed to seep between the outer surface of the spindle and the sealassembly. Should some water succeed in splashing under hood 184,hermetic seal 102 and lip seal 164 will prevent its contamination ofupper It should roller bearing 152 and the pivotal connection oftrunnion pin within bushing of trunnion ring 96.

Should horizontal adjustments be required in the space between thevertical rolls, both spindles 8 and 1t) and the rotating seals 32 may belaterally displaced without interruption of the watertight seal. Thetrunnion housing 38 will slide on its liners 40 along the upper surfaceof aperture adjusting plates 44, 46 and 48 with seal 68 maintainingconstant watertight integrity. As the spindles are inclined from thevertical position to accommodate different spaced relationship of thevertical rolls, the trunnion ring 96 will assume a correspondinginclined position by pivoting about the axis of trunnion pins 90.

Finally, should the level of the pass line require vertical adjustmentor should the rolls require a pass change, the spindle may be slidablydisplaced in an axial direction through the seal assembly without againdisturbing its watertight integrity. When downwardly displaced, sleevewill scrape any accumulated deposit from the spindle surface, therebyavoiding contamination of the inner seal components. Upward axialdisplacement of the spindle is also permitted with the keeper bar 56 nowacting to keep the seal assembly in place on canopy aperture closingplates 44 and 46.

When removal of the spindle and the seal assembly is necessitated, thespindles are first downwardly displaced to their lowest position.Lifting chains or links 141 are then passed through welded eye hooks 113and attached at their upper extremities to the lowered Vertical rollhousing. Stud nuts 66 are then loosened and keeper bars 56 withdrawnfrom receiving channels 62. After spindle aperture closing plates 44, 46and 48 have been displaced in opposite directions in order to enlargespindle apertures 22, the overlying vertical roll housing is raised,carrying with it both the spindle 8 and the spindle assembly 32. Afterthe required maintenance on the underlying drive mechanisms have beenperformed, the reverse procedure is followed in replacing the spindleand the seal assembly.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the exampleof the invention chosen for purposes of disclosure which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. For use in a rolling mill, means for preventing the deposit ofcooling water and mill scale on the lower intermediate drive mechanismsof vertical roll stands, said means comprising the combination ofprotective inclined water sheds positioned above said lower intermediatedrive mechanisms and below said vertical roll stands, said water shedsprovided with spindle apertures through which connecting vertical drivespindles extend from said intermediate drive mechanisms to verticalrolls rotatably mounted within said vertical roll stands, apertureadjusting means for enlarging or contracting the size of said spindleapertures, and rotating seal assemblies slidably mounted on saidspindles in slidable engagement with said aperture adjusting means, saidseal assemblies positioned intermediate the outer rotating surfaces ofsaid spindles and the inner edges of said spindle apertures, said sealassemblies capable of permitting rotation, axial and lateral movement ofsaid spindles with respect to said water sheds while maintaining aconstant watertight seal therebetween.

2. In a continuous rolling mill, for use with drive spindles extendingupwardly from underlying intermediate drive mechanisms through spindleapertures in protective inclined water sheds to the vertical rollscontained within the vertical roll stands, a rotating seal assemblypositioned intermediate the outer surface of each said drive spindle andthe inner edges of said spindle apertures, said rotating seal assemblycomprising the combination of rotating and non-rotating sub-assemblies,said non-rotating sub-assembly mounted over said spindle aperture inslidable engagement with said water shed in order to provide the sealassembly with a means of accommodating lateral spindle movements, meansfor holding said non-rotating sub-assembly in slidable engagement withsaid water shed and for providing a constant watertight sealtherebetween, said non-rotating sub-assembly provided with a passagewaytherethrough in communication with said spindle aperture, said rotatingsub-assembly pivotally mounted within said passageway in order to permitsaid spindles to incline from a vertical position within said spindleassembly during said lateral spindle movement, said rotatingsub-assembly further provided with an inner circular passagewaycooperating with said passageway in said non-rotating sub-assembly andsaid spindle aperture to provide said seal assembly with a means foraxially accepting said spindle, said rotating sub-assembly slidablymounted on said spindle for rotation therewith within said nonrotatingsub-assembly, bearing means intermediate said rotating and non-rotatingsub-assemblies, means for providing a water-tight seal between saidrotating sub-assembly and said spindle while permitting sliding axialmovement of said spindle therein, and means for providing a water-tightseal between said sub-assemblies while permitting rotation of saidrotating sub-assembly within said non-rotatin g subassembly.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said non-rotatingsub-assembly is comprised of a trunnion housing having a circular upperextremity and a peaked base, said trunnion housing slidably mounted onsaid water shed in a position covering said spindle aperture, saidtrunnion housing having a vertical circular passageway therein incommunication with said spindle aperture, oppositely disposed trunnionpin blocks positioned within the upper extremity of said housing, saidblocks containing fixed inwardly disposed trunnion pins, means forpivotally mounting said rotating sub-assembly Within said passagewaycomprising a non-rotating circular trunnion ring pivotally mounted onsaidpins, and means for providing a water-tight seal between saidtrunnion ring and said trunnion housing.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rotatingsub-assembly is comprised of a circular spindle bushing slidably mountedon said spindle for rotation therewith, a circular bearing sleevesurrounding said bushing and in annular spaced relationship with saidspindle, sealing means positionedintermediate said spindle and saidbearing sleeve within said annular space for providing a water-tightseal between said spindle and said rotating sub-assembly, and retainingmeans for containing said sealing means within said annular space.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by ameans for removing accumulated foreign matter from the outer surfaces ofsaid spindle, said means comprising a sharpened circular metal collarpositioned on said retaining means and held in slidable engagement withthe outer surface of said spindle in order to scrape said foreign matterfrom the surface of said spindle prior to its slidable insertion Withinsaid rotating sub-assembly.

6. For use in a rolling mill, means for preventing the deposit ofcooling water and mill scale on the underlying intermediate drivemechanisms of vertical roll stands, said means comprising thecombination of protective inclined water sheds positioned above saidunderlying intermediate drive mechanisms and below said vertical rollstands, said inclined water sheds provided with spindle aperturesthrough which connecting vertical drive spindles extend from saidintermediate drive mechanisms to vertical rolls rotatably mounted withinsaid vertical roll stands, aperture adjusting plates slidably mountedover said spindle apertures on said wather sheds in order to provide ameans of enlarging or contracting said spindle apertures, and rotatingseal assemblies slidably mounted on said vertical spindles, said sealassemblies comprising integrally fabricated rotating and non-rotatingsub-assemblies, said non-rotating sub-assemblies mounted over saidspindle apertures in slidable engagement with said aperture adjustingplates in order to provide a means of adjusting the position of saidseal assemblies during lateral movements of said spindles, means forholding said nonrotating sub-assemblies in slidable engagement with saidaperture adjusting plates during vertical axial displacement of saidspindles and for providing a constant watertight seal therebetween, eachsaid non-rotating sub-assemblies provided with an enlarged passagewaytherethrough in communication with said spindle apertures, said rotatingsub-assemblies pivotally mounted within said enlarged passageways inorder to compensate for spindle angularity and in turn provided withinner circular passageways in communication with said enlargedpassageways and said spindle apertures, said rotating sub-assemblies insliding axial engagement with said spindles for rotation therewithwithin said non-rotating sub-assemblies and for lateral displacementtherewith with said non-rotating sub-assemblies on said apertureadjusting plates, bearing means intermediate said rotating andnon-rotating sub-assemblies, means for providing a water-tight seal between said rotating sub-assemblies and said spindles, and means forproviding a water-tight seal between said rotating and non-rotatingsub-assemblies.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,03,990 7/1952Sheperdson et al. -n 72248 2,575,231 11/1951 OMalley 72247 2,603,990 7/1952 Sheperdson et al. 72248 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. FOR USE IN A ROLLING MILL, MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE DEPOSIT OFCOOLING WATER AND MILL SCALE ON THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE DRIVE MECHANISMSOF VERTICAL ROLL STANDS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OFPROTECTIVE INCLINED WATER SHEDS POSITIONED ABOVE SAID LOWER INTERMEDIATEDRIVE MECHANISMS AND BELOW SAID VERTICAL ROLL STANDS, SAID WATER SHEDSPROVIDED WITH SPINDLE APERTURES THROUGH WHICH CONNECTING VERTICAL DRIVESPINDLES EXTEND FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE DRIVE MECHANISMS TO VERTICALROLLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID VERTICAL ROLL STANDS, APERTUREADJUSTING MEANS FOR ENLARGING OR CONTRACTING THE SIZE OF SAID SPINDLEAPERTURES, AND ROTATING SEAL ASSEMBLIES SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAIDSPINDLES IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID APERTURE ADJUSTING MEANS, SAIDSEAL ASSEMBLIES POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE OUTER ROTATING SURFACES OFSAID SPINDLES AND THE INNER EDGES OF SAID SPINDLE APERTURES, SAID SEALASSEMBLIES CAPABLE OF PERMITTING ROTATION, AXIAL AND LATERAL MOVEMENT OFSAID SPINDLES WITH RESPECT TO SAID WATER SHEDS WHILE MAINTAINING ACONSTANT WATERTIGHT SEAL THEREBETWEEN.